Speedometer cable

Pfiffle · 03-12-2008, 03:35 PM

I'm going to be changing rears in my 76 Cutlass soon. Going from 2.41 to 3.73. The speedo will be off, I know. I'll get the right gears for it (speedometer) as I go on with the whole project. But in the meantime, to test drive the car, can I just disconnect it from the tranny, tie it out of the way and plug the hole for now? Is there a recommended way to seal the hole? Certain "Plug" that anyone had luck with? If I leave it connected I'm afraid I might "Pin the speedo" and break something because of the major difference in rear gears. Thanks. Tom

J-(Chicago) · 03-12-2008, 06:01 PM

I'm no expert, but I don't think you will break the speedometer pinning it.
My speedo only goes up to 85mph, but the car has been well over that for an extended period of time.
As a rough estimate, I've had it pegged for at least 6 straight miles and was probably going in excess of 110Mph. Gotta love those old 2.41 rear gears. Not even any burning belt stench, just a cool, calm and collected ride.

Olds64 · 03-13-2008, 10:11 AM

I don't think you need to worry. I had a 91 Buick Estate Wagon with a 2004R transmission and a bad speedo gear. The speedo would jump and bounce until I replaced the speedo gear with one I got from a junkyard out of a sedan. When I got the new one in the speedo was about 20 miles per hour off. Apparently the wagons had a different gear ratio... probably for towing. Anyways, I drove it like that until I sold the car a year later.

joe_padavano · 03-13-2008, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pfiffle

I'm going to be changing rears in my 76 Cutlass soon. Going from 2.41 to 3.73. The speedo will be off, I know. I'll get the right gears for it (speedometer) as I go on with the whole project. But in the meantime, to test drive the car, can I just disconnect it from the tranny, tie it out of the way and plug the hole for now? Is there a recommended way to seal the hole? Certain "Plug" that anyone had luck with? If I leave it connected I'm afraid I might "Pin the speedo" and break something because of the major difference in rear gears. Thaks. Tom

Just hook it up. You won"t hurt the speedo. For completeness, however, the trans will work just fine without the speedo cable connected.

Pfiffle · 03-13-2008, 11:22 AM

OK. I won't worry about it. Thanks. The rear is coming tommorow. 3.73's should give her a bit more snot off the line. Although her highway days are over until I get the OD tranny, maybe next year if I have a good year with work. But thats what my 1970 Ninety Eight is for. Highway cruiser. Tom.

03-12-2008, 03:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
Pfiffle Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 97	Speedometer cable I'm going to be changing rears in my 76 Cutlass soon. Going from 2.41 to 3.73. The speedo will be off, I know. I'll get the right gears for it (speedometer) as I go on with the whole project. But in the meantime, to test drive the car, can I just disconnect it from the tranny, tie it out of the way and plug the hole for now? Is there a recommended way to seal the hole? Certain "Plug" that anyone had luck with? If I leave it connected I'm afraid I might "Pin the speedo" and break something because of the major difference in rear gears. Thanks. Tom Last edited by Pfiffle : 03-13-2008 at 11:07 AM.

03-12-2008, 06:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
J-(Chicago) Seasoned beater pilot. Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,392	I'm no expert, but I don't think you will break the speedometer pinning it. My speedo only goes up to 85mph, but the car has been well over that for an extended period of time. As a rough estimate, I've had it pegged for at least 6 straight miles and was probably going in excess of 110Mph. Gotta love those old 2.41 rear gears. Not even any burning belt stench, just a cool, calm and collected ride. __________________ I'd rather have a numbers matching poker hand. Last edited by J-(Chicago) : 03-12-2008 at 06:05 PM.

03-13-2008, 10:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
Olds64 Landyacht Club President Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lawton, OK Posts: 1,088	I don't think you need to worry. I had a 91 Buick Estate Wagon with a 2004R transmission and a bad speedo gear. The speedo would jump and bounce until I replaced the speedo gear with one I got from a junkyard out of a sedan. When I got the new one in the speedo was about 20 miles per hour off. Apparently the wagons had a different gear ratio... probably for towing. Anyways, I drove it like that until I sold the car a year later. __________________ "Some men are Baptists, others Catholics. My father was an OLDSMOBILE man." Ralphie Billingsley A Christmas Story 1983 "We rei-eign, supreme, ooooh god! Burrito supreme, and a chicken supreme, and a CUTLASS SUPREME!" Tenacious D 2007

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03-13-2008, 11:22 AM	#5 (permalink)
Pfiffle Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 97	OK. I won't worry about it. Thanks. The rear is coming tommorow. 3.73's should give her a bit more snot off the line. Although her highway days are over until I get the OD tranny, maybe next year if I have a good year with work. But thats what my 1970 Ninety Eight is for. Highway cruiser. Tom.